UCC says Anti-Pornography Bill is unnecessary
The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has said the Anti- Pornography Bill, 2011 is unnecessary because it is a duplication of the UCC Act, where some of the provisions in the bill are already provided for.
Appearing before the parliamentary committee on legal and parliamentary affairs Wednesday to give its views on the bill, the commission officials contended that it has broadcasting standards which cover a large part of the anti-pornography bill.
Uganda seems to have an ability to legislatively over react at every possible opportunity to issues that really are of little or no consequence. There is a Facebook page purporting to represent the industry in Uganda. Its cover photo seems to come from Kenya erotic though.
"There is need to harmonize the provisions of the Anti-pornography bill and the Uganda communications Act 2013 since some of the provisions in the Anti-pornography bill are provided for in the UCC Act," said Patrick Mwesigwa the Director Technology, Networks and services.
Mwesigwa who had represented the executive director UCC, Godfrey Mutabazi told the committee that is currently consulting on the bill that; "This law needs to consider existing laws to avoid duplicity".
The Bill, which was tabled by state minister of ethics and integrity, Rev. Fr. Simon Lokodo seeks to create the offence of pornography.
Rosebell Kagumire blogged about the insanity of the bill a couple of days ago while posting some distinctly pornographic pictures of herself breaking the proposed law.
Head of legal affairs UCC Javason Kamugisha told the committee that; "It overlaps into other existing legislations, it is not taking into account people's cultures that amount to pornography, we need to come up with a clear legislation".
The bill in its current form bans mini skirts leading to some predictable results.
The commission noted that the bill raises challenges with regard to implementation by the committee established there under adding that there might arise constitution challenges regarding implementation in respect to investigation strategy by the committee.
Clause 3 of the bill provides for the establishment of an Anti-pornography committee consisting of a chairperson and six other persons appointed by the minister.
As a way forward, the commission advised that the bill looks mainly at the content and not platform since technology is evolving saying it might render some of the provisions inapplicable.
Meanwhile, some committee members equally opposed the proposed Anti- pornography bill saying parliament has suffered enough embarrassment by laws that face rejection on the floor.
I can fix that for the Ugandan Parliament.
The Ugandan parliamentarians should think about that.
Yona Musinguzi (Ntungamo) ; " I don't see why we should waste time talking about this bill, because it is unpopular, we should just make a bill on those selling themselves along rock gardens, you cannot tell me that you should make a law on the way people want to dress".
Florence Namayanja (Bukoto East); "we have suffered enough embarrassment as parliament, three bills including the marriage bill have already been rejected, and they are collapsing on the floor of parliament and I have a feeling this bill is going to follow suit its seems ministers who bring these bills are bringing row data, we need to do research".
The bill seeks to repeal and replace section 166 of the penal code Act 120, and prohibits pornography in any form.
Uganda really needs to start thinking about parliamentary reform.
